CHAPTER 54: Warmth in the Chaos

As they reached the dorm at 7 p.m., the members stood up and stretched, leaving the van one by one. Boo, Wonwoo, and Jeonghan were still rubbing their foreheads, red from losing the game and getting knocked earlier.

Meanwhile, Nian softly tapped DK's cheeks.

"Loudie, we've arrived~ Get up."

DK clung to her, half-asleep, mumbling,

"Let me sleep for a few more minutes…"

Nian chuckled. "Loudie~ first eat dinner, then you can sleep."

DK whispered in a sleepy pout,

"But if I sleep, I can't be with you… You'll be with Xuanye. Then when can I spend time with you?"

He smiled cheekily.

Nian blushed and turned her face toward the window, hiding her smile.

---

After a while, DK and Nian entered the dorm. The members were all knocked out on the couches and floor, completely drained from practice.

DK, still half-asleep, stumbled toward Vernon and flopped on top of him.

Scoups was sprawled across the sofa, with Mingyu using his chest as a pillow. Dino dozed on Scoups' shoulder, while Hoshi had latched onto Woozi in a hug.

Jeonghan, Joshua, and Jun were still working on concert prep.

Wonwoo and Minghao had stretched out their legs and fallen asleep mid-conversation.

Nian looked at them with concern and walked over to Xuanye.

"Ye~ they look really exhausted…"

Xuanye nodded with worry. "Yeah… They've been practicing nonstop without breaks," she sighed.

Nian gently elbowed her.

"Let's cook something for them. That way they can rest a little more."

Xuanye looked at her and smiled softly. "Okay~ let's do it."

---

They quietly entered the kitchen and began cooking.

By 8:30 p.m., the members started to wake up, one by one, squinting in the soft lighting. As they opened their eyes and adjusted to the smell, they were shocked to see the table full of food.

Woozi rubbed his eyes and asked, "Wait… Did you girls make all of this?"

The girls nodded proudly.

"Yes! You've all been working so hard, so we wanted to do something small for you. Now go get freshened up first~ dinner's ready!"

The members blinked, then practically bolted to the washroom to clean up.

Nian and Xuanye chuckled as they watched the chaos.

---

Soon, everyone returned and sat down eagerly at the table, eyes twinkling with hunger and gratitude.

As the girls served them, the members dug in like they hadn't eaten in days.

After just one bite, Boo let out a dramatic groan of happiness.

"I really missed your cooking, guys~ it goes into my mouth like jelly!"

The girls burst out laughing.

"Eat more~ there's plenty," they said.

The room filled with warmth — clinking of chopsticks, quiet laughter, and the comfort of home.

---

After dinner, the members lay scattered across the floor again — full, drowsy, and slowly drifting into sleep.

When Nian and Xuanye came out of the kitchen after cleaning up, they found all the boys sleeping deeply. The girls smiled faintly and went to fetch pillows and blankets.

They gently moved the table and began placing pillows under the boys' heads and covering them with warm blankets.

As they did, they noticed how pale some of the members looked — their bodies still twitching slightly, murmuring in their sleep. Hoshi was even dreaming aloud about the practice.

Nian watched them in disbelief.

Xuanye stood beside her and said quietly,

"Nian… when we used to watch them on screen, we thought they were just dancing and smiling. But now, living with them, we see what it really takes. Months of practice. No breaks. Performing even when they're exhausted…"

Nian's eyes softened. "Yeah… you're right. Being an idol is really, really tough."

They stood there for a moment, looking at the sleeping boys, the blankets tucked in around them like a quiet thank you.

And in that silence, the girls realized — they weren't just fans anymore.

They were part of this little family now. And they were going to protect that warmth.